Need advice

yomod

Hi - this post probably applies to both this forum and the terrestial tv forum. I'm thinking of getting this box http://cgi.ebay.ie/Combo-Satellite-DTT-HD-Receiver-Metabox-Combo-HD-CXCI_W0QQitemZ260344859237QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_AudioElectronicsVideo_Video_TelevisionSetTopBoxes?hash=item260344859237&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1300|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318.
it is claimed that I will be able to use it to view British free to air channels using my satellite dish, and the new irish didgitial terrestial service using a UHF arial. I don't have a lot of experience with this sort of thing. Does this look kosher to you guru's out there? I live in Glanmire in Cork, and as far as I am aware, the digital terrestial service is being briadcast from Spur Hill, so I should be able to get it I guess. I just don't want to waste the cash on this box, and then find it's a dud!
Any advice would be appreciated!

watty

Sounds like it will work. No experience of it.

If you do get it, please post and let us know how it goes.

Spur Hill is not 100% regular yet, but should be in a few months.

Apogee

The box you link to is a rebadged version of the Globalteq box discussed and tested in detail here:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055408057

fat-tony

You need to ensure the seller will support you if you have a problem. The box is not like a SKY receiver or Freesat receiver where the programme listings are supported automatically. This box is a free-to-air (FTA) receiver, where the seller has edited the list of channels to provide you with a reasonable sequence of stations to watch. If a new channel is launched or the available listings are changed by the broadcaster, you may well have to re-scan the channels manually. I have one of these receivers myself and I'm very impressed by the way it supports DTT and sat on the one platform, but in my view, it's more suited to someone familiar with other FTA receivers. If you can receive Irish DTT in your locality you will have the benefit of a 7 day programme guide, but the sat programme guide (EPG) is only for now and next programmes.

Onikage

...and the globalteq is a clone of the darkbox HD. There is the possibility of Freesat EPG and transponder autotuning support in the future. It was also for sale for 139 GBP including shipping from wizard until they discontinued it.

yomod

Great - thanks for the advice people. I'm gonna read the thread on the Globalteq befroe I decide what to do...

paulski999

yomod - did you go ahead and buy it? Any reviews?

Open question - Would you buy a Humax FOXSAT-HDR (with PVR included but no digital Terrestrial) or Metabox Combo HD CXCI which hasn't PVR built-in but has digital Terrestrial, given that the Humax seems impossible to get at the moment... Decisions decisions

fat-tony

paulski999 wrote: »

yomod - did you go ahead and buy it? Any reviews?

Open question - Would you buy a Humax FOXSAT-HDR (with PVR included but no digital Terrestrial) or Metabox Combo HD CXCI which hasn't PVR built-in but has digital Terrestrial, given that the Humax seems impossible to get at the moment... Decisions decisions

I've got both (well I've got the Humax and a Globalteq combo which has turned out to be not quite exactly the same as the Metabox).
The Humax HDR is a proper dual tuner sat box with 320GB hard drive and a facility to archive recordings to a USB stick/drive etc. Excellent user interface, excellent 7 day EPG, dependable recording of series linked programmes, much better than the current SKY HD box and EPG. FTA channels only - so no Premiership footie if you're into that sort of thing (but the games on ITV are usually in HD anyway). Excellent picture - as good as, if not better than, my Thomson HD box. No lockups, no out of sync sound - box has been running without incident for two weeks now.
Niggles - deleting recorded programmes is a bit awkward - too many button presses, can't delete a file when something else is recording. But these niggles can be sorted with a firmware release - and Humax seem to be listening to the users in the UK in any case as regards feature wishlists.
The remote is a bit of a pain - buttons everywhere, some duplication of functions. The SKY remote is a thing of beauty - pity the software on the SKY HD box is so s**t.
The Globalteq (should have bought a Metabox:rolleyes:) is a super low-cost HD sat and DTT receiver. It integrates satellite and DTT channels seamlessly on the channel list and favourites. It works very well with a motor for multi-satellite reception. Not the fastest for scanning nor the most sensitive, but a good buy for 139 euro delivered:) (no there's no more stock in the UK at the moment). Excellent HD picture and Dolby sound - as good as SKY HD or Humax. Multiple versions of firmware available from near clones Metabox and Darkbox, which held out the possibility of a PVR type connection to an external eSATA drive, but this does not appear to be working on the Globalteq - only on Metabox:( If you don't absolutely need PVR functions, then it's a good buy!
Ultimately we will need a dual tuner sat and DTT receiver with reliable PVR for Ireland to receive the full range of FTA programming available. The Humax HD PVR box with a DTT tuner would be just the ticket!

slegs

The Metabox CXCI is a newer box than the Globalteq 700HDCI and Metabox HD CI. Visually it is different - it is black with a different LCD display whereas the older HDCI ones are silver. The CXCI also has a CAS card reader.

The CXCI has PVR functionality via eSata where the Globalteq and older Metabox doesnt. The Metabox CXCI is the same as the Darkbox Combo HD Rev 2008.

There are other clones of the CXCI and Darkbox for other markets (GoSat in Poland and Czech Republic being another example). The key difference between HDCI and CXCI to look out for is the Card Reader and PVR functions on the remote.

paulski999

slegs wrote: »

The Metabox CXCI is a newer box than the Globalteq 700HDCI and Metabox HD CI. Visually it is different - it is black with a different LCD display whereas the older HDCI ones are silver. The CXCI also has a CAS card reader.

The CXCI has PVR functionality via eSata where the Globalteq and older Metabox doesnt. The Metabox CXCI is the same as the Darkbox Combo HD Rev 2008.

There are other clones of the CXCI and Darkbox for other markets (GoSat in Poland and Czech Republic being another example). The key difference between HDCI and CXCI to look out for is the Card Reader and PVR functions on the remote.

Can you record BBC or ITV HD via optional PVR?

slegs

paulski999 wrote: »

Can you record BBC or ITV HD via optional PVR?

I haven't done it (I have a Globalteq) but I have a Darkbox on order and will test it out. From reports I have read it is yes you can record and playback HD channels fine.

paulski999

Hi All,

What are options buying the Metabox Combo HD CXCI, From looking through other posts there seems to be other options other that the ebay link in the OP??

Many thanks
paulski999

dogdig

You might be able to get something at Tringsat.com - they have a Metabox HD on offer but I dunno if it is a combo - worth a look or email, maybe...

byte

dogdig wrote: »

You might be able to get something at Tringsat.com - they have a Metabox HD on offer but I dunno if it is a combo - worth a look or email, maybe...

That box is satellite only.

dogdig

OK - but I reckon it is still worth an email along the lines of if they dont have it in stock do they know who does and do they deliver to Ireland?


PS as an alternative if you just Google "metabox hd receiver combo" there are quite a few dealers for you to try..prices vary enormously so I guess there will be differences in specs.

tipperary

I am thinking of getting one of the Metabox combo units, with the PVR available through esata. Can anyone tell me if this will work with a 2.5" HDD linked via esata (powered from the unit), or will I need an independently powered 3.5" HDD?

patrick whitty

if you can afford a technomate 6900
buy it it will give you freesat and irish dtt and you can record to usb stick
patrick